China’s Energy Plan
The upcoming release of China’s new national energy strategy seems similar to what the U.S. Senate is debating- incentivize and lean towards renewables and efficiency, but keep the stuff that is providing the majority of the electricity supply, which is coal. China has abundant domestic supplies of coal and will continue to make good use of them going forward.
As far as oil is concerned, China is well aware of its need to secure petroleum supplies abroad. The central plank of China’s foreign policy throughout much of Africa, Central Asia and Middle East amounts to a grand strategy designed around a pressing need to secure oil and natural gas. Pipelines from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia enter China from the East, while state-backed Chinese firms sign infrastructure deals with numerous African counties in exchange for minerals, petroleum or other natural resources.
At the same time, China spent twice as much the United States on renewable energy generation last year and is now the world’s leading manufacturer of solar panels, wind turbines and other critical renewable technologies.
The reason for this is that the Chinese government is able to achieve fast, effective results through top-down, highly scaled policy implementation. The Chinese government recognizes the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels and has made a conscious decision to do so. In the meantime, they will not sacrifice their economic growth and need for energy in the process.
In the United States, we are constrained by our politicians. In a recent article in Politico, Jay Rockefeller, the Junior Senator from West Virginia said,“The Senate should be focusing on the immediate issues before us – to suspend EPA action on greenhouse gas emissions, push clean coal technologies, and tackle the Gulf oil spill. We need to set aside controversial and more far-reaching climate proposals and work right now on energy legislation that protects our economy, protects West Virginia and improves our environment.“
Sen. Rockefeller is a known supporter of President Obama and was an outspoken advocate of the “public option” during last year’s health care debate. When it comes to tackling an issue that would would be unpopular in his own West Virginia coal country, he is predictably unenthusiastic. The story is the same with many other politicians throughout the country, who on a personal basis may believe in the merits of a climate bill, are unable to support it politically because of their own electoral prospects.
This is where China will kick our ass in renewable energy. The Chinese government acts through deliberation and consensus. Once a decision is made, it happens.
While the Chinese will achieve admirable renewable and efficiency targets, they will remain dependent on petroleum and coal, just like the United States.
An energy bill in the U.S Senate that prices carbon with incentives for efficiency and renewables would be ideal. As China finalizes and implements their new energy plan, I’m afraid they will already be there.
Security Tops the Environment in China’s Energy Plan,
Keith Bradsher, New York Times, June 17, 2010
